Chapter 538: Auction House |
"Here, there are restrictions."
Ning Qi only needed one glance to realize something was off about this place.
Compared to the previous city, this place was clearly stronger.
"Master, can we still go in directly then?"
Upon hearing this, Pill Spirit asked curiously.
"Let's go. Going straight in is impossible."
Ning Qi shook his head, then headed straight for the city.
Seeing this, Pill Spirit hurriedly followed.
The two soon arrived inside the city.
There were more people, and the goods being bought and sold by the street vendors included equipment and resources for cultivators.
"Master, look, there's an auction house up ahead."
Pill Spirit, with his sharp eyes, spotted an auction house up front at a glance.
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Ning Qi looked forward.
Sure enough, he saw an auction house.
The place was bustling with people coming and going, extremely lively.
"Master, didn't we collect quite a few treasures?"
"Should we try to sell off the ones we don't need?"
Pill Spirit's eyes darted around as he made the suggestion.
"That's not necessary."
Ning Qi shook his head: "The cultivators in our True Martial Spirit Realm still need them."
"However, since we've come across it, I should go in and see what interesting things they have here."
"Maybe I'll find something I need."
"Great!"
"Even if not, it's still a way to pass the time."
Pill Spirit agreed immediately.
He really liked these kinds of lively places.
"Not in a hurry for now."
"Let's first go see where the teleportation formation here is located."
Ning Qi shook his head, then looked ahead.
"Okay!"
Pill Spirit happily agreed, then followed him as they continued forward.
"Brother, may I ask where the city's teleportation formation is?"
After walking a few steps forward, Ning Qi found someone who looked like a cultivator and asked.
"Right up ahead."
"Walk to the end, turn left, then keep going straight."
"Once there, turn right and you'll see it."
The person pointed Ning Qi in a direction to go.
"Alright, thank you!"
After thanking him, Ning Qi set off directly.
After walking a distance following the directions, they finally arrived at the city's teleportation formation area.
In front of this teleportation formation, there were city guards stationed.
Ning Qi walked up and faced the guard.
"Brother, may I ask when your teleportation formation can be activated?"
He first asked politely.
"As long as you have spirit stones, anytime."
"However, if you want to activate it, you need to give us extra spirit stones."
"This is the maintenance fee for our formation."
The guard looked at Ning Qi and said in a deep voice.
"May I ask, how many spirit stones are needed?"
Hearing this, Ning Qi followed up.
"One thousand spirit stones."
The guard extended one finger and said with a smile: "Not ordinary spirit stones, but mid-grade spirit stones."
"Might as well go rob someone!"
Pill Spirit immediately became displeased: "This is worth a hundred spirit stones at most."
However, his power was too strong; the guard couldn't see him at all.
Even his speech only made the guard feel like gusts of wind.
The guard couldn't sense his presence at all.
"Then, if teleporting from here, can one go to the Myriad Swords Sect?"
Ning Qi didn't mind; as long as teleportation was possible, it was all fine.
"No."
The guard shook his head and pointed in a direction far from them: "Leave the city from here, then walk twenty miles straight; that's our Flying Vessel dock."
"You need to take a Flying Vessel to go there; it's more cost-effective than teleportation."
"For one trip, as long as it's within two months, the charge is five thousand high-grade spirit stones."
"Oh? Within two months, so even one day counts?"
Hearing him say this, Ning Qi couldn't help but ask with a smile.
It seemed this place was truly unscrupulous.
Perhaps it was related to the abundant spirit stone resources here.
However, he didn't mind.
His goal was to find Xu Qingqiu.
As long as he could find her, nothing else mattered.
"Yes."
The guard answered very readily.
"Thank you."
Ning Qi said no more, turned, and left.
"Master, I feel he's cheating us!"
Pill Spirit said indignantly, glancing back: "Let me teach him a lesson."
"Not necessary. This place should already have experts guarding it."
"I can sense the presence of experts with True Immortal strength."
"Let's not cause trouble. We'll check out the auction house and then prepare to leave."
Ning Qi shook his head, then turned his gaze forward.
"Okay!"
Mentioning the auction house, Pill Spirit immediately became interested, happily bouncing on his shoulder.
The two soon arrived at the door of the auction house they had seen earlier.
"Young master, are you here to participate in our auction?"
A shop assistant saw them approach and happily came forward to ask.
"Yes, is there an auction now?"
Ning Qi nodded and followed up.
"Yes, the next one starts in half an hour!"
"Young master can come take a look, choose a good spot, and it'll start soon!"
The shop assistant agreed and proactively invited them inside.
"Okay!"
Ning Qi didn't hesitate either, nodded, and walked in.
After the two entered, they saw the auction house's main hall already had quite a few people.
Some were heading towards the back, while others were going upstairs.
"Young master, would you like to go directly to see our main auction hall, or go upstairs to look?"
The shop assistant looked at Ning Qi and invited.
"What's the deal with the auction hall?"
Hearing this, Ning Qi asked curiously.
"That's where many people gather."
"If you want quiet and privacy, then go to the private rooms upstairs."
"We have formation restrictions; people below cannot spy on you."
The shop assistant patiently explained to Ning Qi.
"Hmm, then we'll go to a private room upstairs!"
Ning Qi nodded, signaling the shop assistant to lead the way.
"Young master, please!"
The shop assistant was overjoyed and hurriedly invited Ning Qi upstairs.
Just like that, following the shop assistant, they soon reached the second floor.
"It's still noisy. To the third floor!"
Ning Qi shook his head, dissatisfied with this.
"Alright, young master, please!"
The shop assistant quickly agreed, once again leading the way for Ning Qi.
Soon, following the shop assistant, they reached the upper floor.
"Young master, how about this room? The balcony here faces directly down onto the auction floor!"
After leading him in, the shop assistant gestured downwards.
Ning Qi also walked over and looked down.
He indeed saw the auction floor below.
The main hall was already quite full of people.
In the central position was an auction area, a space several zhang square.
It seemed the auctioneer would conduct the auction from there later.
"Hmm, the position is good."
"We'll take this one!"
Ning Qi nodded in agreement, then looked at the shop assistant: "How much longer?"
"Less than half an hour. If you're bored, young master, you can go take a look over there."
"There are many treasures there; perhaps something will catch your eye!"
The shop assistant pointed in a direction near the entrance and said to Ning Qi.
"Good, lead the way, let's go take a look!"
Ning Qi happened to have nothing to do, so he asked the shop assistant to lead.
"Young master, please!"
The shop assistant agreed, then led him.
"Master, this place is quite fun!"
"There are quite a few natural treasures!"
Pill Spirit, on his shoulder, looked around at the surroundings.
"Hmm, let's see what treasures are here!"
Ning Qi nodded, then followed the shop assistant as they continued.
They soon arrived at a large hall where many people were leisurely browsing.
All around were counters.
On these counters were many pieces of armor and weapons, as well as natural treasures.
"Young master, you can browse freely."
"This humble one will take his leave now!"
After bringing him here, the shop assistant prepared to bid farewell.
"Okay!"
Ning Qi agreed, then began to wander around here.
"Master, buy all the natural treasures here!"
"If I can devour them, I can improve a lot!"
Pill Spirit pointed at the natural treasures on a counter and said pitifully to Ning Qi.
"Okay!"
Ning Qi didn't hesitate either. After coming over, he looked at the shop assistant and asked: "How much for these few medicinal herbs here?"
"Young master, the prices for these are all different!"
"This one is five hundred thousand spirit stones, this one is two million mid-grade spirit stones."
Hearing Ning Qi's inquiry, the shop assistant began patiently introducing them to him.
"How much for the entire counter's worth combined?"
Ning Qi was too lazy to let him calculate further; he wanted it all in one go.
"Added together, that's eight million mid-grade spirit stones."
The shop assistant calculated seriously, then told Ning Qi.
"Good, then pack them all up for me."
Ning Qi agreed, then took out a storage bag and tossed it onto the counter: "Count it."
"Alright, young master, please wait a moment!"
The shop assistant took his storage bag, then went to have the shopkeeper nearby verify the spirit stones.
He then returned and began packing all these up for Ning Qi.
"No problem."
"Pack them up properly for the young master."
At this moment, the shopkeeper from earlier came over and instructed the shop assistant.
"Yes."
The shop assistant agreed, then hurriedly helped pack these natural treasures.
"Young master, you seem unfamiliar, just arrived here?"
Seeing Ning Qi spend lavishly, the shopkeeper felt like striking up a conversation.
"Passing through."
Ning Qi nodded and said with a smile: "After participating in your auction later, I'll leave the city to take your city's Flying Vessel and depart."
"So that's it. Why doesn't the young master teleport?"
Hearing him say this, the shopkeeper couldn't help but ask curiously.
"I'm going to the Myriad Swords Sect. The guards here said it's not reachable."
"Can only take a Flying Vessel."
Ning Qi shook his head and explained.
"Oh, then he really didn't lie to you."
The shopkeeper nodded, then continued: "However, since you've spent so much here, I can, after you finish participating in the auction, recommend you to board our Flying Vessel."
"With our auction house's connections, you can ride this trip for free, no matter where you want to go."
"Oh? There's such a good thing?"
Hearing the shopkeeper say this, Ning Qi immediately became interested.
"Yes, you are our customer, of course we want to secure benefits for you!"
"We're not doing a one-time deal."
"Our auction house is spread throughout the entire Lower Realm. You can see our auction house in every city you go to!"
The shopkeeper nodded, revealing a smile: "Young master, you'll understand slowly once you go."
"Good, then I won't stand on ceremony!"
Ning Qi nodded, then continued: "Then I won't disturb you further. Your auction should be starting soon!"
"Right, about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea!"
The shopkeeper nodded and said to the shop assistant beside him: "Escort the young master back."
"Yes!"
The shop assistant accepted the order, then respectfully stepped forward: "Young master, please follow this humble one."
"Then I'll trouble you!"
Ning Qi smiled, then signaled the shop assistant to lead.
"Please!"
The shop assistant led the way while inviting Ning Qi.
Soon, following the shop assistant, they returned to the third floor.
He found his way easily to the private room he had already booked earlier.
However, upon walking in, he saw there were already several people inside.
"Young master, did you perhaps come to the wrong place?"
The shop assistant, realizing there were people inside, couldn't help but ask in confusion.
"No, I've already booked this place. Your shop assistant brought me here!"
"You can call the shop assistant at the door up here and ask him for clarification."
Ning Qi shook his head and said.
"Yes, then please wait a moment, young master. I'll be right back!"
This shop assistant agreed, then hurriedly left.
Ning Qi waited at the door like this.
"Master, these people are too much. Isn't this like a cuckoo occupying a magpie's nest?"
Pill Spirit said indignantly, his eyes practically spitting fire.
"It's fine. We've already spent the spirit stones. We'll just clarify when they come."
"It's not worth arguing over such a small matter, wasting our time."
Ning Qi didn't mind, just said with a smile.
"Alright."
Hearing this, Pill Spirit didn't say anything more and settled back on his shoulder.
They waited for the shop assistant to come up and resolve the issue for them.
Soon, both shop assistants came up.
"Young master."
The previous shop assistant stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"See what the situation is inside."
Ning Qi moved aside, letting him see inside.
At this moment, the few people inside were still chatting and laughing.
"This must be a mistake."
"They were supposed to be downstairs."
Seeing this, the shop assistant quickly patted his forehead, then walked in.
Coming before the few people, he said with an apologetic smile: "Gentlemen, this private room has already been booked by someone. You must have made a mistake, right?"
"What mistake? We want this one."
"Tell him to go downstairs! We've booked this place!"
"We'll compensate however many spirit stones are needed."
One of the youths glared at the shop assistant, speaking as he took out spirit stones, ready to dismiss the shop assistant.
"Young master, this... isn't according to the rules."
"Please don't make things difficult for this humble one."
The shop assistant looked troubled, speaking to the few people.
"Hey, kid, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
"Get out!"
Another youth, seeing this, immediately became displeased.
Pointing at the shop assistant, he cursed: "If you don't leave, I'll make you know what's what."
"This..."
The shop assistant hadn't expected these people to be so difficult to talk to.
For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma.
"You few, get out immediately."
Their attitude angered Ning Qi, who was waiting at the door.
He walked forward and looked coldly at the youths before him.
"Well, well, you've got quite the temper."
"Do you know who we are?"
The youth from earlier turned to look at Ning Qi and said disdainfully.